Maciocia Pulses

Question 1

Floating pulse

Answer 1

exterior patterns

Question 2

Floating at superficial level but empty at deep level

Answer 2

deficiency of yin

Question 3

Deep pulse

Answer 3

Interior patterns

Question 4

Deep & weak

Answer 4

Deficiency of Qi & Yang

Question 5

Deep & full

Answer 5

interior stasis of Qi and Blood, or interior cold and heat

Question 6

Slow pulse

Answer 6

Cold

Question 7

Rapid pulse

Answer 7

Heat

Question 8

Slow & empty

Answer 8

Empty cold from Yang

Question 9

Full & slow

Answer 9

Full cold

Question 10

Rapid & empty

Answer 10

Yin deficiency

Question 11

Full & rapid

Answer 11

Full heat

Question 12

Empty pulse

Answer 12

Feels big but soft or big but empty on stronger pressure

Question 13

Full pulse

Answer 13

Full, hard and long

Question 14

Slippery pulse

Answer 14

Smooth, rounded, slipper to touch, oily.

Phlegm, damp, retention of food, pregnancy.

Question 15

Choppy pulse

Answer 15

Feels jagged.

Deficiency of blood, exhaustion of fluids, may happen after profuse & prolonged sweating or vomiting

Question 16

Long pulse

Answer 16

Extend slightly beyond normal position

Heat

Question 17

Short pulse

Answer 17

Shorter space

Severe deficiency of qi, deficiency of Stomach qi

Question 18

Overflowing pulse

Answer 18

Big, superficial like a river overflowing

Extreme heat

Question 19

Fine pulse

Answer 19

Deficiency of blood, internal damp with severe qi deficiency

Question 20

Minute pulse

Answer 20

Same as fine, just more so. Difficult to feel.

Severe deficiency of Qi & Blood

Question 21

Tight pulse

Answer 21

Cold (interior or exterior). Asthma from cold in Lungs or Stomach cold. Pain.

Question 22

Tight & floating

Answer 22

Exterior cold

Question 23

Tight & deep

Answer 23

Interior cold

Question 24

Wire pulse

Answer 24

Feels like a guitar string. Liver disharmony, phlegm, pain.

Question 25

Slowed-down pulse

Answer 25

Usually healthy pulse (4 beats/breath)

Question 26

Hollow pulse

Answer 26

Felt at superficial level but empty in the middle. After hemorrhage.

Question 27

Rapid & slightly hollow

Answer 27

Loss of Blood

Question 28

Leather pulse

Answer 28

Hard & tight at superficial level and stretched like a drum, empty at deep level. Is a large pulse not thin. Severe deficiency of Kidney essence or yin.

Question 29

Firm pulse

Answer 29

Felt on the deep level, hard & firm. Interior stagnation & pain

Question 30

Firm & slow

Answer 30

Interior cold

Question 31

Weak-floating pulse

Answer 31

Only felt at superficial level.
Deficiency of Yin & Essence.
Damp if in combination with a very empty position.

Question 32

Weak pulse

Answer 32

Deficiency of Yang

Question 33

Scattered pulse

Answer 33

Very small, superficial, “broken” in small dots.

Severe deficiency of Qi & Blood, Kidney qi, serious condition.

Question 34

Hidden pulse

Answer 34

Near the bone, difficult to feel.

Extreme deficiency of Yang.

Question 35

Moving pulse

Answer 35

Trembles under the finger, round like a bean.

Shock, anxiety, fright or extreme pain, people with deep emotional shock.

Question 36

Hurried pulse

Answer 36

Excess of Yang, with fire in the body exhausting the Yin.

Question 37

Hasty pulse

Answer 37

Rapid & stops at irregular beats.

Extreme heat, deficiency of Heart qi, or heart fire.

Question 38

Knotted pulse

Answer 38

Slows & stops at irregular beats.
Cold.
Deficiency of Heart qi or heart yang

Question 39

Intermittent pulse

Answer 39

Stops at regular beats
Serious internal problems of one or more yin organs. If it stops every 4 beats or less the condition is serious. Could be a serious heart problem.